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While Nessie is the most famous water cryptid, my home state of Arkansas is home to arguably one of the best known water cryptids in the US. Documented sightings of the White River Monster, or Whitey as it has came be known as by the locals, have been occurring in for almost 100 years. What is Whitey and what are some theories suggested to explain it? With sightings over such a long period of time, distinguishing fact from fiction is difficult.
While reports of Whitey begin in the 1890s by Americans, sightings of Whitey predate even those. Exactly when the earliest sighting of Whitey occurred is difficult to pinpoint, but the Quapaw tribe that lived in the area before the white settlers have told stories of a creature in the White River that would tip canoes over (The White River Monster, 2008). The description of this animal in the legends was a snake-like animal with grey skin that was wider than a grown man and as long as a tree.
In the 1890s, several people reported watching a large creature swimming in the White River in the area that is now near Newport, Arkansas. One witness was visiting the area from New York and carried his story back with him to the paper. His description of what he saw that day is the first first-person account of what the alleged creature looks like that we have today.
The witness said that as he was fishing in the river, the surface came to life with fish jumping. He saw a large shadow in the river that began to rise from the depths. When the creature broke the water, it had grey wrinkled skin and sounded a bit like a cow in distress. The witness said the creature stayed on the surface for a few moments during which time the man saw it had a bony back and was approximately the size of a railroad car. This description is very near to one given in the legends of the Quapaw.
While there were several sightings reported from 1890 to 1900, this was the only report that I could find a copy of the original article for. For my purposes, I can only accept this report as valid and with the description being remarkably similar to the legend’s this adds credence to this man’s account.
The next documented report of a sighting of Whitey I could find was not until 1930s in what is quite possibly the most famous string of Whitey sightings to date. Beginning in 1931, sightings of Whitey again began. Records show over 17 reports of an excessively large animal being seen in the vicinity of Newport while even more reports of mysterious tracks were made.
In 1937, Bramblett Bateman, a farmer that owned land near the White River, was told by a tenant farmer that there was a creature in the eddy of the river. The tenant went on to say that fishing in the area had been poor for days and felt this creature was the cause of it. Bateman thinking the tenant was crazy went to the river himself and saw the creature. Though Bateman never saw the creature fully surfaced, his description was an animal that was approximately 5 feet wide and at least 12 feet long (Kystek, 2000).
Among those Bateman notified of the creature were DN Graves of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and county deputy ZB Reid. Reid is another witness. His description of what he saw was “a lot of foam and bubbles coming up in a circle about 30 feet in diameter” and when the creature surfaced it looked like a “large sturgeon or catfish” (Kystek, 2000).
For days Bateman watched the creature in the eddy and began to see a pattern. Every afternoon the creature would surface for up to 15 minutes. During the period of time Bateman watched the creature in the eddy, preparations were made for a professional diver to investigate the creature.
Charles Brown was a former Navy deep sea diver with many years experience. He agreed to dive near the creature from July 22 until July 25 to try to determine exactly what the creature was. Time magazine ran the story of Whitey and Brown’s escapades in August 1937 (Time, 1937). Brown never did see the creature due to poor visibility and faulty gear. Eventually the creature moved from the eddy.
Again, years went by with only a few reported sightings of the creature.
In 1971 witnesses saw a large creature playing in the water. Four witnesses signed affidavits on what they saw. Though comparisons varied, every witness agreed that the creature was the approximate width of a boxcar and the length of three or four pickup trucks. All agreed the animal had smooth grey skin, but looked as if it was peeling in spots and all agreed that animal made strange noises like a cow mooing and a horse neighing.
Also in 1971, Earnst Denks reported seeing the creature. His report contains some similarities to previous reports, but has one key difference. Denks reported that he watched the creature for several minutes. The creature was long, grey, smooth skinned, and bony backed, but also added the creature had a pointed horn protruding from its head (Johnson, 1997).
1971 also stands as the year that the most famous and only picture of what is allegedly Whitey was taken. In July, Cloyce Warren and two friends were fishing on the river when a column of water erupted near their boat. They then saw a creature swim away. All witnesses agreed the creature stretched at least 20 feet and had a spiny backbone. Though the original Polaroid has been lost, the Newport Daily Independent still has the original story that ran with this picture. (Johnson, 1997).
Around this time, many people had reported seeing large tracks of an unknown animal on the banks of the river. Often these tracks were found on Towhead Island. Plaster castings of these tracks still exist today. The tracks were approximately 14 inches long and 8 inches wide and created by a large three-toed animal (Galiano, 2008). The brush in the areas the tracks were found was also reportedly disturbed as if a very large animal had been through the area.
In 1973, the Arkansas State Legislature passed and created the White River Monster Refuge. The refuge contains land and river adjacent to the Jacksonport State Park on the White River.
The spurt of sightings in the early 1970s have been the most recent documented sightings of the White River Monster. Recently, reports have been coming in from the Newport area that Whitey has returned and interestingly enough more of the same tracks are being found on the banks of the river in the area.
Look for "White River Monster -- Witness Facts" coming soon.
Galiona, A. (2008). The Ghosts of Arkansas. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://littlerock.about.com/cs/urbanlegends/a/aaghosts.htm
Johnson, RT. (1997). Monster Story Number Three. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://users.aristotle.net/~russjohn/monsters/ms3.html
Kystek, L. (2000). The Misplaced Monster of the White River. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.unmuseum.org/whiteriv.html
Time. (1937). Newport’s Monster. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,770733,00.html
While reports of Whitey begin in the 1890s by Americans, sightings of Whitey predate even those. Exactly when the earliest sighting of Whitey occurred is difficult to pinpoint, but the Quapaw tribe that lived in the area before the white settlers have told stories of a creature in the White River that would tip canoes over (The White River Monster, 2008). The description of this animal in the legends was a snake-like animal with grey skin that was wider than a grown man and as long as a tree.
In the 1890s, several people reported watching a large creature swimming in the White River in the area that is now near Newport, Arkansas. One witness was visiting the area from New York and carried his story back with him to the paper. His description of what he saw that day is the first first-person account of what the alleged creature looks like that we have today.
The witness said that as he was fishing in the river, the surface came to life with fish jumping. He saw a large shadow in the river that began to rise from the depths. When the creature broke the water, it had grey wrinkled skin and sounded a bit like a cow in distress. The witness said the creature stayed on the surface for a few moments during which time the man saw it had a bony back and was approximately the size of a railroad car. This description is very near to one given in the legends of the Quapaw.
While there were several sightings reported from 1890 to 1900, this was the only report that I could find a copy of the original article for. For my purposes, I can only accept this report as valid and with the description being remarkably similar to the legend’s this adds credence to this man’s account.
The next documented report of a sighting of Whitey I could find was not until 1930s in what is quite possibly the most famous string of Whitey sightings to date. Beginning in 1931, sightings of Whitey again began. Records show over 17 reports of an excessively large animal being seen in the vicinity of Newport while even more reports of mysterious tracks were made.
In 1937, Bramblett Bateman, a farmer that owned land near the White River, was told by a tenant farmer that there was a creature in the eddy of the river. The tenant went on to say that fishing in the area had been poor for days and felt this creature was the cause of it. Bateman thinking the tenant was crazy went to the river himself and saw the creature. Though Bateman never saw the creature fully surfaced, his description was an animal that was approximately 5 feet wide and at least 12 feet long (Kystek, 2000).
Among those Bateman notified of the creature were DN Graves of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and county deputy ZB Reid. Reid is another witness. His description of what he saw was “a lot of foam and bubbles coming up in a circle about 30 feet in diameter” and when the creature surfaced it looked like a “large sturgeon or catfish” (Kystek, 2000).
For days Bateman watched the creature in the eddy and began to see a pattern. Every afternoon the creature would surface for up to 15 minutes. During the period of time Bateman watched the creature in the eddy, preparations were made for a professional diver to investigate the creature.
Charles Brown was a former Navy deep sea diver with many years experience. He agreed to dive near the creature from July 22 until July 25 to try to determine exactly what the creature was. Time magazine ran the story of Whitey and Brown’s escapades in August 1937 (Time, 1937). Brown never did see the creature due to poor visibility and faulty gear. Eventually the creature moved from the eddy.
Again, years went by with only a few reported sightings of the creature.
In 1971 witnesses saw a large creature playing in the water. Four witnesses signed affidavits on what they saw. Though comparisons varied, every witness agreed that the creature was the approximate width of a boxcar and the length of three or four pickup trucks. All agreed the animal had smooth grey skin, but looked as if it was peeling in spots and all agreed that animal made strange noises like a cow mooing and a horse neighing.
Also in 1971, Earnst Denks reported seeing the creature. His report contains some similarities to previous reports, but has one key difference. Denks reported that he watched the creature for several minutes. The creature was long, grey, smooth skinned, and bony backed, but also added the creature had a pointed horn protruding from its head (Johnson, 1997).
1971 also stands as the year that the most famous and only picture of what is allegedly Whitey was taken. In July, Cloyce Warren and two friends were fishing on the river when a column of water erupted near their boat. They then saw a creature swim away. All witnesses agreed the creature stretched at least 20 feet and had a spiny backbone. Though the original Polaroid has been lost, the Newport Daily Independent still has the original story that ran with this picture. (Johnson, 1997).
Around this time, many people had reported seeing large tracks of an unknown animal on the banks of the river. Often these tracks were found on Towhead Island. Plaster castings of these tracks still exist today. The tracks were approximately 14 inches long and 8 inches wide and created by a large three-toed animal (Galiano, 2008). The brush in the areas the tracks were found was also reportedly disturbed as if a very large animal had been through the area.
In 1973, the Arkansas State Legislature passed and created the White River Monster Refuge. The refuge contains land and river adjacent to the Jacksonport State Park on the White River.
The spurt of sightings in the early 1970s have been the most recent documented sightings of the White River Monster. Recently, reports have been coming in from the Newport area that Whitey has returned and interestingly enough more of the same tracks are being found on the banks of the river in the area.
Look for "White River Monster -- Witness Facts" coming soon.
Galiona, A. (2008). The Ghosts of Arkansas. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://littlerock.about.com/cs/urbanlegends/a/aaghosts.htm
Johnson, RT. (1997). Monster Story Number Three. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://users.aristotle.net/~russjohn/monsters/ms3.html
Kystek, L. (2000). The Misplaced Monster of the White River. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.unmuseum.org/whiteriv.html
Time. (1937). Newport’s Monster. Retrieved October 26, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,770733,00.html
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